Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: MQM/FILE
The chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain has decided not to meet leaders of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) unless the two parties reach consensus on important public issues.
The decision by the party, which is a key ally of the government, was taken in a late night meeting of the coordination committee and core committee held in Karachi and London on Friday.
According to the unanimous decision, Hussain will not meet any PPP leaders unless members of both the parties take concrete decisions on welfare issues.
“The main issue is Karachi’s worsening law and order situation, and our concern is how no measures are being taken,” MQM leader Waseem Akhtar told The Express Tribune. He said that the parties were also upset over the lack of development and unemployment in the province. “We have been coalition partners for five years. What have we gained?”
Appreciating the active role of the federal interior minister, Rehman Malik, in holding positive dialogues, members of the MQM’s core committee in a press statement called other members of the PPP biased. Holding talks were them were useless and a waste of time, the statement read.
Meanwhile, the PPP insisted that it has no plans of isolating its coalition partner. PPP’s general secretary in Sindh, Taj Haider told The Express Tribune that they would not let go of the consultative process. “We would continue to hold dialogues with the MQM.”
In the past, MQM had been upset with the PPP but their issues were resolved nonetheless, he said. “Our party policy is to accommodate every party. We believe in dialogue.” Haider said that it was not only the MQM which was worried about the law and order situation in Karachi, but the PPP was also very concerned. “Religious extremism is a new factor that has been introduced in Karachi, and we are working to combat that. There are some anti-democratic forces who want to delay the elections but we won’t let them be successful.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2013.
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Neither Terrorism & Extremism in any form is a new phenomenon in Karachi Nor MQM's concern over it. Neither Law Enforcers failure to coup up with terrorism is hidden from common men nor Govt's ignorance about the issues. We are suffering from worst law and order situation in Karachi but seems that Govt, Law Enforcers, All the Political Forces even the common men themselves have accepted it as a component of life and Opponents made it a habbit to held MQM responsible and the reason of the situation and Supporters continue to consider MQM as their savior.
Long live Altaf bhai! This proves that Altaf bhai has only one thing on his mind and that is the betterment of the people of the great city of Karachi